Ammiano Reintroduces Bill to Tax and Regulate Marijuana

Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) has reintroduced his landmark marijuana regulation bill (AB 2254) today, building on the momentum from the Assembly’s first formal consideration of marijuana legalization in American history in early January.

The Marijuana Control, Regulation, and Education Act (AB 2254) would create a regulatory structure similar to that used for beer, wine and liquor, permitting taxed sales to adults while barring sales to or possession by those under 21.

New Hampshire House Overwhelmingly Rejects Attempt to Repeal Marriage Rights

The New Hampshire House of Representatives has rejected a bill that would repeal the states new gay marriage law, just an hour after it also rejected a resolution seeking to amend the state constitution to restrict marriage between a man and a woman.

Both attempts by same-sex marriage opponents were soundly defeated, the first by a 210-109 vote and the second by 201-135 vote. The constitutional amendment required a three-fifths majority to pass.

Funding Awarded for a National Resource Center for LGBT Elders

An award totaling $900,000 over three years has been made to Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) to establish the nation’s first national resource center to assist communities across the country in their efforts to provide services and supports for older LGBT individuals.

The resource center will be tasked with engaging, empowering and supporting mainstream aging providers, LGBT providers and LGBT older adults to ensure that LGBT elders have the necessary and culturally appropriate supports and services to successfully age in place.

Anti-Bias Law Enacted in Albania

Albanian lawmakers have approved an anti-discrimination bill that will protect Albanians from all forms of discrimination, including on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Article 1 of the bill defines equality, and includes sexual orientation and gender identity among the reasons equality should not be infringed upon. Article 3 defines discrimination, incorporating every ground mentioned in article 1. The bill was approved on February 4, 2010.

Major Victory For Transgender People

Commentary by Boyce HinmanA federal tax court has issued a ruling which, if it stands, will be a major victory for transgender people. The court ruled that people who undergo sex reassignment surgery may claim the cost of the surgery as a tax deductible medical expense on their federal tax return.

The court said Gender Identity Disorder (GID) is an actual disease, as defined by the Internal Revenue Code. It also said hormone therapy, and sex reassignment surgery, are valid forms of treatment for that disease, and the costs of such care are deductible under the Internal Revenue Code.